Group Members: Season, Ally, John, Jessica
In the novel, there is a clear distinction between the two classes of people in Afghanistan (The Hazaras and the Pashtuns) Help the class understand the religious roots of these differences and how violence has defined the relationship between the two for hundreds of years. Where do these different groups mainly live in Afghanistan? How do their appearances differ? Is one wealthier or more powerful than the other? How is the inferior group treated? Are they oppressed, denied jobs, or otherwise mistreated? Identify where the different classes have made progress and been pushed back. Make sure that you also include one of the most famous atrocities that took place in Mazāri Sharīf.
The Hazaras
History and Culture-
In Afghanistan, the Hazaras are known more as the lower class. Geographically, the Hazaras are primarily located in central Afghanistan, with other settlements in Pakistan and Australia. Hazaras can also be found in other ethinically rich areas of the world like the U.S., Canada, ect. The Hazaras religious beliefs are mainly Shi'as muslim. Hazaras are of Chinese, Turkish and Mongol decent which gives them their distinctive Asian appearance. A majority of thier population live in the foothills of Afghanistan. They live in small dirt houses with flat roofs and remain mostly nomadic due to their hunted lifestyle. Most Hazaras speak in strange dialects combining Turkish, Mongolian, and Persian.
The Hazaras are a group that have been discriminated against throughout their history. Today, Hazaras are not safe in any part of Pakistan and most of Afghanistan. Much violence has been aimed toward this group. Over the last decade, more than 1,100 Hazaras were killed in a terrorist plot or were assasinated. Over 3,000 have been injured on the same basis. The Australians later said that they would not provide asylum for the Hazara people in Australia. The Hazaras are left with no where else to go but to hide. They live in small nomadic communities and also in underground caves. There is no way to find just how many Hazaras there are in the world (there is no census) as the estimations fluctuate anywhere from 1.5 to 10 million. Most of these Hazaras live in the heart of Afghanistan being suppressed on all sides by the Pashtuns.
Children from the ethnic Hazara minority play in front of their cave home in Afghanistan
Oppression-
The Hazaras were extremely mistreated; they were banned from basic rights. In general, the Hazaras worked physical, low-wage jobs, such as servants, herders, farmers, and many women and children were taken as slaves during conflicts with the Pashtuns. Hazaras were not permitted to attend schools in Afghanistan, the vast majority could not read or write. Along with their lack of education, they also did not have medical care provided to them like the Pashtuns. For example in the Kite Runner, Ali had Polio, which is prevented at child birth in the United States, as well as Hassan's cleft lip, a physical defect that affects an infant’s ability to feed , which would have had emergency surgery if in the United States. Hasssan’s physical defect is very serious and could have led to infant mortality, because it leads to malnutrition of the newborn. These ailments show the lack of concern for the Hazaras.
Hazaras protesting cultural genocide
Religion-
Shi'a Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam. Shi'a Islam is based on the teachings of the Quran, as well as the Prophet Muhammad. Shi'ites believe that God is the only person who has the right to select a person to safeguard Islam, and the Quran. While the Sunnis are very structured with prayer five times a day, and do not combine without special circumstances, the Shi'ites embody an independent system of religious interpretation and political authority in the Muslim world. They basically set their own rules of prayer, whether they pray five times a day, or combine all the prayers and pray twice. The Shi'ites have a lot more religious freedom than the Sunnis.
The Pashtun
History and Culture-
Traditon states that Pashtuns are descended from the grandson of King Saul of Israel, Afghana. Though many scholars believe that they may in fact be the result of and intermingling of ancient Aryans from the north or west with subsequent invaders. It is known that between the 13th and 16th centuries several Pashtun tribes moved from Afghanistan to Pakistan. In the early 21st century there was an estimated 11 million Pashtun in Afghanistan and 25 million in Pakistan. The Pashtuns are the predominant ethnic group in Afghanistan. Partially due to this ethnic predominance the Pashtuns tend to be the more powerful group in Afghanistan and therefore tend to hold more of the goverment and other powerful postions in the region. The Pashtun also tend to be the more educated ethnic group because unlike the Hazaras, like Hassan in the novel, Pashtuns were allowed to attend school and were therefore able to recieve an education.
The Pashtun population can be seen in the light green.
-The Pastun physical appearance differs from that of the Hazara in that they have less asianistic features and have more caucasian like features. These features include lighter colored hair and eyes and sometimes skin, much like Assef in the novel who has blonde hair and blue eyes.
These pictures show an example of a young Pashtun girl and a young Pastun boy.
Religion-
Many Pashtuns follow Sunni Islam, which is also the largest branch of Islam. And Pashtuns belong to the Hanafi school of thought with in this religion. There are five schools of thought(law) with in Sunni Islam: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali, Zahiri.(The schools of thought can best be related to the different types of Christianity more commonly know to Americans such as Catholicism and Methodist.)
Mazar-e-Sharif Massacre
City of Mazar
The massacre of Mazar-e-Sharif took place in the city of Mazar, which is located in northern Afghanistan. The attack on the city was the Taliban’s second attempt to capture the city of Mazar. The Talibans first attempt failed because of Hazaran opposition. During their second attempt the Taliban broke through the lines of Hazaran opposition. As a result thousands of Hazara’s where killed, approximately 8000 according to findings of the *Human Rights Watch.
*The Human Rights Watch is a international human rights organization who were the first to interview the Mazar Massacre survivors. Before the arrival of the HRW no press was allowed into the city of Mazar.
According to Maulawi Mohammed Hanif, a commander for the Taliban declares that the policy of the Taliban is to “exterminate” the Hazara’s. During the attack on the city many Hazaran men were executed. Taliban members searched homes interrogating suspected Hazarans, In an interview with the HRW about the massacare a Hazaran man describes the first day of attacks.
“The first day when the Taliban entered the city killed every one whom they saw on the streets.”
Quotes from Eyewitnesses
“…but I could see bodies still on the back streets which were stinking. Half of my family are still in Mazar and I don't know what happened to them."
- Darwaz-I Shadian, Hazara
“Civilian's dead bodies were ordered to be left in the spot for three days as taliban revenge when last years taliban dead bodies were remained unburied in the streets for many days. During these three days dogs in the streets ate the dead bodies”
-Maboboa,Hazara
* Note for this quote: In Muslim religion immediate burial after death is a traditional practice. Dogs within their culture are also seen as filthy and dirty. Her perspective shows how much respect the pro-taliban Pashtuns had towards Hazarans.
Aftermath
The Massacre in the city of Mazar is one of the worst attacks on the Hazaran people. After the attack Mullah Manon Niazi, the new Taliban governor of Mazar-e-Sharif, tells a crowd of people that "Hazaras are not Muslim. You can kill them. It is not a sin." Since the massacre in the city of Mazar more similar atrocities have occurred between the Taliban and the Hazaras such as the Massacre of Yakaolang, Robatak Pass, Banyan and Afshar. Violence and attitudes against Hazaras are ongoing in Afghanistan to this day.
In the novel, there is a clear distinction between the two classes of people in Afghanistan (The Hazaras and the Pashtuns) Help the class understand the religious roots of these differences and how violence has defined the relationship between the two for hundreds of years. Where do these different groups mainly live in Afghanistan? How do their appearances differ? Is one wealthier or more powerful than the other? How is the inferior group treated? Are they oppressed, denied jobs, or otherwise mistreated? Identify where the different classes have made progress and been pushed back. Make sure that you also include one of the most famous atrocities that took place in Mazāri Sharīf.
The Hazaras
History and Culture-
In Afghanistan, the Hazaras are known more as the lower class. Geographically, the Hazaras are primarily located in central Afghanistan, with other settlements in Pakistan and Australia. Hazaras can also be found in other ethinically rich areas of the world like the U.S., Canada, ect. The Hazaras religious beliefs are mainly Shi'as muslim. Hazaras are of Chinese, Turkish and Mongol decent which gives them their distinctive Asian appearance. A majority of thier population live in the foothills of Afghanistan. They live in small dirt houses with flat roofs and remain mostly nomadic due to their hunted lifestyle. Most Hazaras speak in strange dialects combining Turkish, Mongolian, and Persian.
http://www.hazara.net/hazara/geography/ethnicmap1.jpg
The Hazara population can be seen in yellow
Violence-
The Hazaras are a group that have been discriminated against throughout their history. Today, Hazaras are not safe in any part of Pakistan and most of Afghanistan. Much violence has been aimed toward this group. Over the last decade, more than 1,100 Hazaras were killed in a terrorist plot or were assasinated. Over 3,000 have been injured on the same basis. The Australians later said that they would not provide asylum for the Hazara people in Australia. The Hazaras are left with no where else to go but to hide. They live in small nomadic communities and also in underground caves. There is no way to find just how many Hazaras there are in the world (there is no census) as the estimations fluctuate anywhere from 1.5 to 10 million. Most of these Hazaras live in the heart of Afghanistan being suppressed on all sides by the Pashtuns.
http://hazaraasylumseekers.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/28847_495401267160893_824150160_n.jpg?w=500Artist depiction of the 300 person passenger boat that sank on its way to Australia
Oppression-
The Hazaras were extremely mistreated; they were banned from basic rights. In general, the Hazaras worked physical, low-wage jobs, such as servants, herders, farmers, and many women and children were taken as slaves during conflicts with the Pashtuns. Hazaras were not permitted to attend schools in Afghanistan, the vast majority could not read or write. Along with their lack of education, they also did not have medical care provided to them like the Pashtuns. For example in the Kite Runner, Ali had Polio, which is prevented at child birth in the United States, as well as Hassan's cleft lip, a physical defect that affects an infant’s ability to feed , which would have had emergency surgery if in the United States. Hasssan’s physical defect is very serious and could have led to infant mortality, because it leads to malnutrition of the newborn. These ailments show the lack of concern for the Hazaras.
Hazaras protesting cultural genocide
Religion-
Shi'a Islam is the second largest denomination of Islam. Shi'a Islam is based on the teachings of the Quran, as well as the Prophet Muhammad. Shi'ites believe that God is the only person who has the right to select a person to safeguard Islam, and the Quran. While the Sunnis are very structured with prayer five times a day, and do not combine without special circumstances, the Shi'ites embody an independent system of religious interpretation and political authority in the Muslim world. They basically set their own rules of prayer, whether they pray five times a day, or combine all the prayers and pray twice. The Shi'ites have a lot more religious freedom than the Sunnis.
The Pashtun
History and Culture-
Traditon states that Pashtuns are descended from the grandson of King Saul of Israel, Afghana. Though many scholars believe that they may in fact be the result of and intermingling of ancient Aryans from the north or west with subsequent invaders. It is known that between the 13th and 16th centuries several Pashtun tribes moved from Afghanistan to Pakistan. In the early 21st century there was an estimated 11 million Pashtun in Afghanistan and 25 million in Pakistan. The Pashtuns are the predominant ethnic group in Afghanistan. Partially due to this ethnic predominance the Pashtuns tend to be the more powerful group in Afghanistan and therefore tend to hold more of the goverment and other powerful postions in the region. The Pashtun also tend to be the more educated ethnic group because unlike the Hazaras, like Hassan in the novel, Pashtuns were allowed to attend school and were therefore able to recieve an education.
-The Pastun physical appearance differs from that of the Hazara in that they have less asianistic features and have more caucasian like features. These features include lighter colored hair and eyes and sometimes skin, much like Assef in the novel who has blonde hair and blue eyes.
These pictures show an example of a young Pashtun girl and a young Pastun boy.
Religion-
Many Pashtuns follow Sunni Islam, which is also the largest branch of Islam. And Pashtuns belong to the Hanafi school of thought with in this religion. There are five schools of thought(law) with in Sunni Islam: Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i, Hanbali, Zahiri.(The schools of thought can best be related to the different types of Christianity more commonly know to Americans such as Catholicism and Methodist.)
Mazar-e-Sharif Massacre
The massacre of Mazar-e-Sharif took place in the city of Mazar, which is located in northern Afghanistan. The attack on the city was the Taliban’s second attempt to capture the city of Mazar. The Talibans first attempt failed because of Hazaran opposition. During their second attempt the Taliban broke through the lines of Hazaran opposition. As a result thousands of Hazara’s where killed, approximately 8000 according to findings of the *Human Rights Watch.
*The Human Rights Watch is a international human rights organization who were the first to interview the Mazar Massacre survivors. Before the arrival of the HRW no press was allowed into the city of Mazar.
According to Maulawi Mohammed Hanif, a commander for the Taliban declares that the policy of the Taliban is to “exterminate” the Hazara’s. During the attack on the city many Hazaran men were executed. Taliban members searched homes interrogating suspected Hazarans, In an interview with the HRW about the massacare a Hazaran man describes the first day of attacks.
“The first day when the Taliban entered the city killed every one whom they saw on the streets.”
Quotes from Eyewitnesses
“…but I could see bodies still on the back streets which were stinking. Half of my family are still in Mazar and I don't know what happened to them."
- Darwaz-I Shadian, Hazara
“Civilian's dead bodies were ordered to be left in the spot for three days as taliban revenge when last years taliban dead bodies were remained unburied in the streets for many days. During these three days dogs in the streets ate the dead bodies”
-Maboboa,Hazara
* Note for this quote: In Muslim religion immediate burial after death is a traditional practice. Dogs within their culture are also seen as filthy and dirty. Her perspective shows how much respect the pro-taliban Pashtuns had towards Hazarans.
Aftermath
The Massacre in the city of Mazar is one of the worst attacks on the Hazaran people. After the attack Mullah Manon Niazi, the new Taliban governor of Mazar-e-Sharif, tells a crowd of people that "Hazaras are not Muslim. You can kill them. It is not a sin." Since the massacre in the city of Mazar more similar atrocities have occurred between the Taliban and the Hazaras such as the Massacre of Yakaolang, Robatak Pass, Banyan and Afshar. Violence and attitudes against Hazaras are ongoing in Afghanistan to this day.
Video Detailing the Massacare
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=le_QXKixGZISources-
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/257908/Hazarahttp://kd-knols.blogspot.com/2012/01/brief-analysis-of-history-of-hazaras.html
http://www.hazara.net/
http://hazaraasylumseekers.wordpress.com/tag/hazara-people/
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/445546/Pashtun